An erect, smooth tree, 4 to 12 meters high, starting as an epiphyte strangling its leathery, elliptic-ovate, 5 to 12 centimeters long, shining smooth, with entire margin, and narrowed at both ends. Petioles are 6 to 12 millimeters long. Receptacles are nearly spherical about 1 centimeter in diameter or less, axillary, solitary or in pairs, stalkless, dark-purple and fleshy when mature, smooth, and the base with three small ovate bracts.

Tonic and diuretic (bark); vulnerary (bruised roots); astringent (young buds and the milky juice); diaphoretic (decoction of leaves); aphrodisiac (concentrated juice and fruit).

Bureau of Plant Industry

The milky juice is useful as an external application to pains and bruises and for rheumatism and lumbago. The young buds and the milky juice, are astringent and useful cases of dysentery and diarrhea. The leaves are heated and applied as a poultice to abscesses to promote suppuration and discharge of pus. Internally it is useful in dysentery and diarrhea. An infusion of the bark is said to have specific properties in the treatment for diabetes. A decoction of the bark is used as an astringent lotion in leucorrhoea. The root fibers in the form of decoction is useful for gonorrhoea. An infusion of the small branches is useful in haemoptysis. The tender ends of the hanging roots are given for obstinate vomiting. The concentrated juice in combination with the fruit is of much value in spermatorrhea and gonorrhea.